The Cloud-nin operated with a clear division of roles. On the other side, Kushina was equally determined not to remain under Aoshi's protection—she was no fragile kunoichi lacking combat strength.
"Aoshi, leave those three Genin to me," she said firmly. She was referring to Killer B and his two companions, Motoi and Hiko.
Now that Kushina had mastered the Rasengan, handling those three posed no real challenge. Aoshi didn't argue. He gave a quick nod of approval.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Without hesitation, Kushina created dozens of clones, each wielding a swirling Rasengan, and charged directly at the trio of Cloud-nin.
Killer B reacted quickly, drawing two swords and imbuing them with Lightning Release chakra. This was the result of his intense training during the past month—his newly developed technique: the Shock Lightning Blades!
Enhanced by Lightning Release chakra, the blades gained overwhelming power and piercing strength even greater than Wind Release. Anyone struck would be instantly paralyzed and rendered immobile.
This move was originally crafted to counter Aoshi, but now he had no choice but to use it against Kushina.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
In terms of pure taijutsu skill, Kushina was no match for Killer B.
Despite the relentless assault from her clones, none could land a decisive blow—on the contrary, each was swiftly and effortlessly dispelled by his lightning-fast strikes.
Within mere seconds, more than half of the shadow clones were already eliminated.
The remaining ones shifted their focus, engaging Motoi and Hiko in close-quarters combat.
Amid the chaos, Kushina's real body used the opening to silently maneuver behind Killer B. Seizing the moment, she drove her Rasengan forward, aiming to slam it into his unguarded back.
However, the surprise attack failed. At the very last moment, Killer B spun around with lightning reflexes and intercepted the Rasengan with a cross-block from his twin swords.
Boom!
The Rasengan detonated on impact, unleashing a powerful shockwave that sent both fighters hurtling backward in opposite directions.
Their second clash—much like their first in the Forest of Death—ended in a stalemate once again. Neither had gained the upper hand.
"Damn it!"
Meanwhile, Motoi and Hiko were completely overwhelmed by the relentless assault of Kushina's shadow clones.
They were nowhere near Killer B's level—far from it. Just fending off a handful of clones was already taxing enough. Now, they were forced into a constant retreat, barely dodging the barrage of incoming Rasengan strikes.
Realizing the tide was turning, Killer B immediately sprang into action. With a few swift, precise strikes, he cut through the remaining clones, dispersing them one after another in rapid succession.
But in the very next second, Kushina weaved hand signs and unleashed the Shadow Clone Jutsu once more—this time summoning over a hundred clones in an instant.
As a member of the Uzumaki clan, after she mastered this technique, she became a nightmare to deal with.
Motoi and Hiko were already numb from the sight. They couldn't handle a dozen clones before—now there were over a hundred. Without Killer B's support, they wouldn't stand a chance.
"Motoi, Hiko, just coordinate with me," Killer Bee said, stepping up to lead.
---
Meanwhile, while Kushina clashed with the trio, Aoshi also took the initiative on his end. Their enemies had the numbers advantage—he had to reduce them fast if he wanted to shift the momentum.
"Banshō Ten'in!" (Universal Pull!) Aoshi raised his hand and locked onto Toroi, targeting him first.
The Future Fourth Raikage A's body was too durable, and Dodai's Lava Release was incredibly defensive. The only weak link is the Elite Jonin Toroi with Magnetic Release.
As Toroi was yanked through the air, he activated his Magnet Release and magnetized Aoshi from a distance. Dodai immediately seized the opportunity, throwing a flurry of kunai and shuriken.
Thanks to the magnetic field, they didn't even need to aim—they would all home in on Aoshi.
Frowning slightly, Aoshi quickly formed a seal with one hand and cast Water Release: Water Formation Wall.
This was normally a powerful defensive jutsu—but not this time. The magnetized projectiles easily pierced through the water barrier and continued toward him.
Even teleporting wouldn't help now. Toroi's magnetism had made him a locked target.
Glancing at A, who was crouching and ready to pounce, Aoshi knew—if he used Shinra Tensei (Almighty Push) now, the Raikage would strike the moment the cooldown hit.
With that kind of speed, Aoshi wouldn't even get the chance to react before being hit. Such was the nature of shinobi battles—once your abilities were known, the enemy would find a way to counter them.
Unless one had overwhelming power like Hashirama or Madara, it became a deadly game of tactics and timing.
"You're really underestimating me." As his words fell, Aoshi's body transformed. Two mechanical arms emerged from his shoulders, opening to launch a barrage of missiles.
It was a sight utterly foreign to the ninja world, clearly a technological power. This was the Asura Path, one of the Rinnegan's fundamental abilities.
These weren't cybernetic implants or scientific tools; they were weapons summoned from another dimension through the power of the Rinnegan.
It had been over two months since Aoshi gained the Rinnegan, and during that time, he had diligently developed all Six Paths techniques.
To his enemies, though, the transformation was nothing short of horrifying. They believed Aoshi had actually modified his own body.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The missiles exploded midair, destroying the oncoming kunai and shuriken. Several others continued toward the A and Dodai—but both blocked them without difficulty.
The Fourth Raikage charged in full force, hoping to save the airborne Toroi. But Aoshi wouldn't give him that chance.
He had been saving Shinra Tensei precisely for this moment—he used it now, blasting A away once again.
Then, using the Asura Path's mechanical arms, he struck and killed Toroi on the spot.
"Toroi!!" the Future Fourth Raikage A roared in fury.
---
Outside Konoha—
In a secluded underground research facility, Tsunade worked in complete isolation, meticulously studying the corpse of White Zetsu.
The base had been specially established for her by Hiruzen himself—its location so secretive that only the two of them were aware of its existence. Shielded from prying eyes, it offered her the freedom to conduct her research without interruption or oversight.
Because of its distance from Konoha, Tsunade remained unaware that the Chūnin Exams had been abruptly disrupted. Unlike Orochimaru, she wasn't conducting illegal experiments, so she didn't feel the need to constantly monitor the village.
Focused and serious, Tsunade was completely immersed in her research on White Zetsu's cellular structure.
At first, she had rejected the project outright—she simply wanted to slack off and avoid responsibility. But Hiruzen's authority as the Hokage ultimately left her with no room to refuse. She was compelled to obey, if only reluctantly.
However, over time, her attitude shifted. Recently, she had begun to take the initiative of her own accord.
Because she had discovered that White Zetsu's cells contained the same power found in Hashirama's cells—
The power of Wood Release.
Back when Hiruzen oversaw the Wood Release human experiments, it was Tsunade's medical expertise that made it possible. As the most skilled medical ninja in the shinobi world, she was intimately familiar with Hashirama cells.
That's why she could confirm that White Zetsu's cells indeed contained traces of Wood Release. Though far less corrosive than Hashirama's, and the power far weaker, it was still there.
The Wood Release in White Zetsu was gentle and faint, nearly undetectable.
But detectable nonetheless. And that was enough to reignite Tsunade's interest.